Stamp with changeable face.



No. 692,245. Patented Feb. 4, I902.

W. T. GRESSLER.

STAMP WITH CHANGEABLE FACE.

(Application filed July 11, 1901.)

(No Model.)

1 Jazz/0.111271 YEW/1% 22 I? NiTnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVILL T. CRESSLER, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

STAMP WITH CHANGEABLE FACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 692,245, dated February 4, 1902.

Application filed July 11, 1901. Serial No. 67,842. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILL T. CRESSLER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cincinnati, Hamilton county, State of Ohio, have inventedacertain new and useful Stamp with Changeable Face; and I do declare the following to be a clear, full, and ex act description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, attention being called to the accompanying drawings, with the reference-numerals marked thereon, which form also a part of this specification.

The subject of this invention is a stamp with a changeable printing-face, which renders it suitable to be used for numbering purposes. Stamps of this kind or numbering stamps may be used, for instance, where a number of articles, goods, papers, packages, 850., are each to be provided with a certain number, which is the same in all and serves to identify the particular piece as belonging to a certain lot. For another lot the number is then changed. In shipping and for railroad purposes where a lot of goods or packages come from or go to a certain place or are loaded in a certain car it is advantageous to provide all pieces belonging to such lot with a certain number, which is the same for all, thereby facilitating their handling and their tracing up in case of misplacement.

The invention consists of the construction, most suitable for the purpose, of the stamp in its entirety, and of certain of its parts and of an ink-pad for it, and of the manner of its connection to the stamp.

In the following specification and particularly pointed out in the claims is found a full description of the invention, together with its operation, parts, and construction, which latter is also illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows the stamp in end view and in position for use. Fig. 2 is a vertical crosssection of the same. Fig. 3 is a side view of the stamp in position for use with parts broken away and others shown in section. Fig. e is an under side view of the preceding figure. Fig. 5 shows the stamp again in side View and as it appears when not in use or when its face is to be inked. Fig. 6 shows in a reduced view the manipulation of the stamp while changing the same from thestamping position to a position in which it may be inked, it appearing then as shown in Fig. 5.

The type-blocks 11, provided with numerals on their printing-face, are carried on a number of equal-sized disks 12, loosely placed side by side on an arbor 13, the ends of which are fixedly supported in the ends I L of the in closing frame or housing, of which 15 is the side. There is provision for eleven typespaces on the face of each disk, ten being occupied by the first ten unit numbers, arranged consecutively from one to naught, with a blank space between these latter two. The type-blocks consist of rubber, and by preference I let them rest on a backing of blocks 16 of softer or sponge rubber, thus providing for greater elasticity in action. These type-blocks and their backing, where such is used, areheld in place within undercut recesses on the face of each disk, which recesses are open outwardly to permit the type to protrude, the space inside of these recesses nearest the face of the disk being larger than their outer open part, thus preventing the type-blocks, when fitted to the space within said recesses, from falling out. These recesses are obtained by attaching small metal frames 17 to the faces of the disks, which latter may be of wood. These frames are U- shaped, with their free ends slightly converging to form the above-mentioned undercut recesses, the connecting means, nails, or screws 18 passing through the baseof frame 17 into the face of the disk. In addition to these holding-frames adhesive glue or cement may be used to hold the type-blocks in position. These metal frames are open laterally, thus permitting ready removal of any type-block for any purpose.

In the side 15 of the housing there is an opening as long as the combined width of the disks when in position and as wide as necessaryin order to permit their manipulation for setting them to form acertain number. From 'one edge of this opening there project into this latter a number of elastic tongues 19, one for each disk, all of equal length and with their outer slightly-curled ends projecting into the spaces between two adjoining typeblocks, respectively two frames 17. In this manner the type-disks are held in alinement ICO to form a printing-face (a certain number in this case) which may be readily changed to form a different number by simply turning all or certain disks, the tongues readily yielding. To give the disks while being .turned sufficient free motion, I interpose thin spacing-washers 21, centered-and carried by arbor 13, which reach also beyond the periphery of the former, so as to partly close laterally the recesses formed by frames 17, thereby aiding to confine the type-blocks in position. At each end of this changeable type-face I provide additional type-faces 22, disposed at right angles to the former, and which may be used for additional matter, such as the name of the railway-station or the number, if any is used, standing in place of this latter, &c., The type for this matter are also of rubber and are held in undercut sockets 23, formed in the side of the housing. They may be single types or 1ogotypesthat is, a solid block containing the entire matter.

For conveniently holding the stamp for use there is a strap 24, connected to the ends of the housing and fitted to reach over the back of the hand. This facilitates particularly the lifting of the stamp after inking, since the cylindrical casing thereof is too large in diameter to permit the fingers of the hand to entirely reach around and inclose the same. This strap therefore assists the fingers in their incomplete grasp of the stamp during its manipulation and prevents the same from slipping out from between them, as most plainly shown in Fig. 1. There is also a projecting ridge 25 running lengthwise over the side of this casing, being thus disposed crosswise under the'fingers as they lie against the side of the case,which permits their ends to engage such ridge, thereby preventing the stamp from turning Within the hand. 1

For inking the type-faces I provide a pad 26, which is hingedly connected, the pin or spindle 27 of this hinge being supported in bearings 28, projecting from one of the ends 14 of the housing. Connected with this pad or its hinge in any suitable way to obtain the desired action-as, for instance, by being coiled around hinge-pin 27there is a spring 29, which midwayits ends is attached to this hinge-pin, while its ends are attached in a fixed position, the attachment of these ends and coiling of the spring being such as to normally turn the hinge-pin in a manner where it swings the pad clear of the printing-face and as shown in Figs. 1, 3,4, and 6. For inking, the pad is then simply swung over the type-face and pressed thereagainst. If the other hand should not be free for such purpose, the hand holding the stamp can do it by simply turning it and resting the free end of the pad against a solid surface, after which the stamp is turned on the pad and manipulated withone hand only, as shown in Fig. 0, until the two come together. The pad may be folded over and locked against the stamp when this latter is not in use by any suitable catch or locking device. As shown a rod is used, supported in a barrel-shaped bearing 32 in a manner to have asliding movement therein in a longitudinal direction. It is provided with a hook-shaped extension 31 at one of its ends, which takes over the edge of the pad after closed up, in which position it is held by a spring coiled around this rod within the barrel. To unlock the pad, this rod is simply pushed lengthwise until extension 31 moves off the edge of the pad, after which, as soon as being clearof this latter, it is turned around until out of the way of the pad. It may be turned sufficiently until this end 31 snaps into an opening or indentation in the end of the housing, where it is held out of the way until required again. To keep the pad out of contact with the type-face at such timethat is, when so folded over this latter and held locked while the stamp is not in use which continuous contact, by reason of its pressure, would injure and mash the type, and also to prevent the pad from dragging over these latter while being released, I provide for a limited movement between the two, which, aided by interposed spring action, keeps the two normally slightly apart, but yields readily to permit the two to come together when the stamp is pressed down for inking. For such purpose the pad is connected to hinge-pin 27 by two legs 34, each consisting of two telescoping members having a limited movement on each other and with a spring 35 interposed between the two. Of these two members of each leg one may be part of the hinge-pin,being the bent end thereof or a piece attached thereto, and the other member may project from the edge of the pad, the two together forming in each case a leg complete. The outward action of these springs 35 holds pad and stamp normally out of contact with each other while locked together when the stamp is not in use, thereby preventing pressure against and mashing down of the type. After unlocked and while in use these same springs carry,after each inking, the pad straight awaythat is, at right angles from the printing-face-without dragging or rubbing it over the same, after which spring 29 swings it clear of the printing-face to permit printing. 36 is a cushion against which the edge of the pad strikes when thrown open by the spring. As will be seen, this stamp is very suitable for the particular purpose. It may be readily manipulated with one hand and conveniently adjusted for change, and all parts are accessible by connecting one of the heads detachably.

Having described my invention, I claim as new 1. In a stamp, the combination of a series of solid disks, type-blocks attached to their faces with spaces between them, a housing in which they are mounted for rotation, an opening in said housing permitting a type-block on each disk to protrude beyond the housing, and'tongues projecting from the edge of this latter into the opening therein and adapted to engage with their free ends one each the face of a disk in the spaces between the types thereon, thereby holding them in alinement but yielding sufficiently to permit the typeblocks to slide past under them when rotation of the disks is required.

2. In a stamp, the combination of a series of solid disks, mounted for rotation, recesses in their faces open outwardly and at the sides of the disks, type-blocks fitted to these recesses and spacingwashers between the disks, partly closing the recesses at their sides.

3. In a numbering-stamp, the'combination of a changeable printing-face, type blocks of which the same is composed, disks on the faces of which these type-blocks are carried, a housing within which these disks are mounted for rotation, an opening in the housing within which the type-blocks may be alined to form the printing-face and additional permanent printing-faces at the ends of this opening.

4. A type-wheel composed of a solid center of rigid material, frames 17 consisting of a base from opposite edges of which converging sides project, they being secured to the face of the solid center so as to project radially therefrom, rubber type-blocks fitted into the space between the converging sides of frames 17 and blocks of elastic material interposed between them and the bottom of these frames, both being held in place by the convergence of these sides.

5. In a stamp, the combination with the type-face thereof, of a frame or casing, an ink-pad hingedly connected to this latter in a position permitting it to be swung over the type-face to close up the stamp when not in use or for inking and springs to normally hold it clear of this latter when so closed up, but yielding sufficiently upon pressure to establish contact between the two to permit inking of the printing-face.

6. In a stamp, the combination with the type-face thereof, of a frame or casing, an ink-pad hinged to one side of the same in a position permitting it to be folded over the type-face when not in use, locking means to hold it so, the position of the parts at that time being such that they do not touch each other and springs to so hold them apart and to carry this inking-pad away from the printing-face.

7. In a stamp, the combination of a number of adjustably-mounted disks having type on their faces and supported to permit arrangement of these type to form a printingface, a substantially cylindrical casing inclosing them with the exception of the printingface where the casing is left open to permit printing, the casing being of a size as to diameter which prevents a completely-closed grasp of the hand and extended fingers and a gripping-ridge projecting from the round side of the casing and so disposed as to extend crosswise under the fingers as they lie against the side of the casing thereby aiding the incomplete grasp of the hand.

S. In a stamp, the combination of a number of adj ustably-mounted disks having type on their faces and supported to permit arrangement of these type to form a printingface, a substantially cylindrical casing inclosing them with the exception of the printingface where the casing is left open to permit printing, the casing being of a size as to diameter which prevents a completely-closed grasp of the hand and extended fingers, an ink-pad permanently attached to the casing and a hand-strap attached to the ends of the latter and fitted to pass over the back of the hand to assist in the manipulation of the stamp.

E). In a stamp, the combination of a number of adj ustably-mounted disks bearing type on their faces, a substantially cylindrical casing inclosing them, but partly open to permit contact of the type for printing, an ink-pad connected thereto in a manner permitting it to be folded over the type-face when the stamp is not in use and means operating automatically to hold the pad normally out of contact with the type-face at such time.

10. In a stamp, the combination of a number of disks bearing type on their faces, a housing within which they are mounted for rotation to permit adjustment of each to form a printing-face for a certain purpose, a pad hingedly connected to the housing in a manner to permit it to lie over the printing-face for inking and to be moved out of this position to clear the same for printing, the connection being such as to cause the pad While moving away from the printing-face, to move for a limited distance at right angles away therefrom, after which it swings clear to one side of the same.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

IVILL T. ORESSLER.

Witnesses:

O. SPENc-EL, ARTHUR KLINE. 

